Wine Trail TravelerQuarterly

www.winetrailtraveler.comIssue 10, Winter 2011/2012

Tid Bits

Perhaps the busiest time of the year for the Wine Trail Traveler staff was the fall of 2011. A last week of September visit to Prosser was followed by an early October birth of Kathy’s and Terry’s granddaughter Clara in Portland, Oregon. The Prosser visit took place during a later than usual harvest. The white grapes were coming into the wineries and the reds were going to continue to hang through some if not much of October. Clara’s birth was our second grandchild and an exciting moment. The adults celebrated with a Late Harvest Muscat by Alexandria Nicole Cellars. The sweetness of the wine matched the moment. Alexandria Nicole Cellars is in Prosser, Washington and in March 2011 was named “2011 Washington Winery of the Year” in the spring edition of Wine Press Northwest.

In October there was a visit to FireFly Farms Creamery in Accident, Maryland. An article about the creamery will appear in a new companion website debuting in January 2012. The newest addition to the Wine Trail Traveler sites will center on cheeses, oils including olive and grape seed oils and wine vinegars. These all have similarities to wine and go with wine. The couple also visited and will have articles on the new site about: Aprés Vin (grape

seed oils), Prosser, Washington, B.R. Cohn Olive Oil Company, Glen Ellen, California, Dry Creek Olive Oil Company, Healdsburg, California and Talcott Olive Oil Company, Napa, California. Other articles about creameries and olive and grapeseed oil companies will also debut on the site. Watch for the new website in early January 2012.

Most of November was spent on the road. A visit to wineries in the Lake Erie North Shore area of Ontario, Canada saw the last of the grapes harvested (except those destined for Icewine). Vineyards were showing the last of their autumn colors and many had shed their leaves. Birds were taking advantage of left behind grapes to bulk up prior to their flight south across Lake Erie. The wine region has over ten wineries just an hour drive from Detroit.

A trip to California for the Wine Tourism Conference also included several winery visits in Napa and Sonoma Counties. The vineyards were displaying their autumn splendor. A few vine leaves were holding onto their shades of green while others burst forth in shades of yellows, oranges and reds. One highlight of the trip was a visit and vineyard walk at Michel-Schlumberger Wine Estate. The two-hour walk through the vineyards offered many photo opportunities for the group.

by Terry and Kathy Sullivan

Ever wonder what to do with extra used corks? At A. Rafanelli Winery in Healdsburg, California we discovered a cork wreath hanging in one of the barrel rooms. The wreath was a gentle reminder to decorate for the holidays. It is also a great idea for using up all the corks laying around. Wine travelers can visit A. Rafanelli Winery and taste premium wines in the tasting area of a barrel room.

On the Cover: A. Rafanelli Winery

by Terry Sullivan

Contents

Cover Story Focus on Napa and Sonoma,

California

Publisher Wine Trail Traveler LLC

Editors Terry Sullivan/Kathy Sullivan

Writers Kathy Sullivan Terry Sullivan

Meghan A. Sullivan

On the Cover: A. Rafanelli Winery

Tid Bits

Focus on Napa and Sonoma, California

Focus on Lake Erie North Shore, Ontario, Canada

Focus on Prosser, Washington

Wine in the Bible: Finding Hope in the Book of Isaiah

Cheeses, and Olive Oils, and Vinegars! Oh My!

A Splash of Wine:

-Moroccan Chicken with Meyer Lemon Olive Oil -Red Wine Braised Duck Leg with Huckleberries and Chestnuts

Partners

Back Page: Olive Tree

Articles about the Washington, California and Ontario wineries and vineyards are on the WineTrailTraveler.com website.

While in Detroit, our 2009 Illuminatus Cabernet Sauvignon became a hit at Bucci Ristorante. Not only did the staff like the wine, the chef walked over, grabbed the bottle and poured some of it into a saucepan to create a glaze for lamb. The Cab was bottled in August 2011 and although still young has pleasant qualities. We are looking forward to discovering how the quality increases during the coming year. We will have to plan to create another barrel of Cabernet Sauvignon perhaps with 2012 fruit.

Our fall 2011 winemaking was done at home. We made and bottled a Sauvignon Blanc and have a peach wine still in a carboy. We need to sweeten the peach wine prior to bottling it.

Back home at last, we are planning and writing for the Food companion website, planning our trip to the International Wine Tourism Conference in Umbria, Italy, the International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association Conference in Las Vegas as well as planning the 2012 itinerary.

We hope you have a happy, healthy and prosperous 2012.

Focus on Napa & Sonoma, Californiaby Terry Sullivan

Prior to the Wine Tourism Conference in Napa, a group assembled at Michel-Schlumberger Wine Estate in Healdsburg, California. This particular vineyard walk was created by Zephyr Adventures and the winery. There are also winery tours of the vineyard and a self-guided tour. The fall foliage was spectacular.

The oldest winery in Napa is taking on a modern look. Oak barrels and tanks lie in the Redwood Cellar, the iconic image of Charles Krug Winery. Cesare and Rosa Mondavi purchased the winery 1943. Now their son Peter and grandsons Marc and Peter, Jr. run the winery.

Rodney Strong Vineyards, also in Healdsburg, California, offers a self-guided tour of the winery. Visitors can learn about the history, view soil samples from the vineyards, and see many tanks including these made of wood.

Wine caves have advantages over other rooms built to hold barrels. One of those advantages is less wine evaporating from the barrels. The other advantage is the beauty and romance associated with wine caves. A Rafanelli in Healdsburg, California has 5,000 square feet of caves built into a side of a mountain. In one section a private room serves for family functions for this fourth generation winery.

Built adjacent to a barrel room, resembling an old world wine cave tasting room, this private room is at Sequoia Grove Winery in Napa. The building nestled in tall sequoia trees is a bit remi-niscent of grandfather’s cabin where Heidi went to live.

Your mind is telling you that ice cream and olive oil won’t work. You taste buds trump your mind as you discover this unusual treat. While visiting Talcott Olive Oil Company in Napa, we were introduced to this dessert. Take vanilla ice cream and drizzle olive oil over it. Top with cracked pepper and a little sea salt. Your mind will tell you this doesn’t work. Your taste buds will experience a different revelation.

We discovered many olive trees surrounding or near vineyards in Napa and Sonoma counties. A beautiful site is in Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley in Geyserville, California. The rolling hills are home to Trattore Estate Wines’ vineyards and the Dry Creek Olive Oil Company’s olive trees. When the land was cleared for grapevines owner, Tim Bucher, discovered olive trees and decided to plant additional olive trees.

At the end of harvest a few grapes were left behind. Some begin to raisin. A November visit to vineyards in the Lake Erie North Shore wine region of Ontario, Canada reveals the last of the autumn colors and fallen leaves. It is at this time of year that one can see the fruit not selected for wine.

Focus on Lake Erie North Shore, Ontarioby Terry Sullivan

The flat land is mechanically harvested at D’Angelo Vineyards Estate Winery in Amherstburg, Ontario. These will be the last grapes harvested until temperatures dip below 17º F when Icewine grapes will be harvested in some vineyards on the North Shore. Although that can happen in December, it is not unheard of Icewine grape harvest in January or even February.

A common vineyard view in November are birds descending on the vineyards to eat the leftover grapes before they cross Lake Erie heading south. At times the sky can momentarily turn black from the hundreds of birds. Erie Shore Vineyard in Harrow, Ontario is only 1,000 feet from the lake. It’s a last stop for the bird migration.

Pelee Island Winery is located on the mainland in Kingsville, Ontario while the vineyards are located on Pelee Island in Lake Erie. During a November visit, red wine was draining out of a tank.

Smith & Wilson Estate Wines in Blenheim, Ontario has vineyards that almost back up to the lake. They benefit from the moderating temperatures caused by Lake Erie. Those extra few weeks in the fall help grapes develop their flavors.

Focus on Prosser, Washingtonby Terry Sullivan

The Mercer Estate tasting room and winery is located in Prosser, Washington. A small planting of Pinot Grigio overlooks the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. The Mercer family grows red grape varieties in Horse Heaven Hills. White grapes are grown in Prosser by the Hogue family. There are two wine villages in Prosser that are home to several wineries and tasting rooms.

Visitors to McKinley Springs Winery in Prosser, Washington get sweeping views of the landscape and vineyards in this Horse Heaven Hills AVA. Outside the tasting room, a deck provides seating where people can enjoy the views of 2,000 acres of vineyards.

Milbrandt Vineyards’ tasting room in one of Prosser’s wine villages offers visitors a comfortable setting during the colder months. Several of the tasting rooms in Prosser have seating areas that resemble a living room in a house, the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of wine. Add a fire in the fireplace and winter becomes enjoyable.

remained faithful to His Chosen People, even when they turned their backs on Him. So, we know that the Book of Isaiah cannot end in punishment and sorrow: it ends in hope. The second part of the Book of Isaiah is the part that receives attention during Advent because of its focus on hope and the coming Messiah. Isaiah 40-66 explains that the Messiah will deliver the Chosen People from their suffering and sin. The Messiah is “a light for the nations” (Isaiah 42:6) who will bring peace and justice. Isaiah also portrays God as compassionate and merciful and encourages the Israelites to come to Him. “Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price,” Isaiah writes, describing the life of abundance God offers (55:1). “Let [the sinful] return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (55:7). The Israelites, who were once burdened by foreign

enemies, political strife, and sin, now have hope of deliverance and forgiveness.

We can find hope in the words of Isaiah and in the experiences of the Israelites when we feel weighed down by our limitations, challenges, and sin. We can also find hope in the knowledge that God loved us so much that He came to earth to live among us, die for us, and forgive us. As we begin the New Year, may we continue to reflect on God’s love, hold fast to hope, and toast life’s blessings with the abundant wine God has offered us.

Wine and the Bible

Christmas and New Year’s Day have come and gone, and it is only now, after the chaotic holiday season has passed, that I find myself pausing to reflect on the season of Advent and the true meaning of Christmas. Most adults know that Christmas isn’t really about hanging lights for hours, waiting in lines at department stores, and scouring shops for the perfect gift. Rather, Christmas is about the Incarnation, the great gift of God becoming human. I, and I would guess many others, too often take this gift for granted. The Incarnation is a great gift because God, who is all-powerful, ever-present, and all-knowing, became human. He accepted the limitations and challenges we endure as humans, the suffering and struggles we endure in life. And God did this out of love, to save us from our limited, challenged, and sinful state.

The Old Testament Book of Isaiah, which is read often during Advent, represents humanity’s limitations, challenges, and sin through the suffering and struggles of the Israelites. Although we do not know for certain how many writers contributed to the Book of Isaiah, we do know that, during Isaiah’s life, the Israelites were oppressed by foreign enemies

and political unrest. The first part of the Book of Isaiah attributes this political unrest to the sins of the Israelites. In Isaiah 24, for example, the author warns the Israelites that God will punish them with drought and death if they do not change their sinful ways. Isaiah describes a vision in which “the wine dries up, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted sigh. The mirth of the timbrels is stilled, the noise of the jubilant has ceased, the mirth of the lyre is stilled. No longer do they drink wine with singing; strong drink is bitter to those who drink it…. There is an outcry in the streets for lack of wine; all joy has reached its eventide; the gladness of the earth is banished” (Isaiah 24:7-9, 11, NRSV). What a depressing prophecy for people who were already oppressed by violence, political unrest, and sin!

Christians familiar with the Old Testament know that God always

Finding Hope in the Book of Isaiah

by Meghan Sullivan

“Discover the Magic of Making Wine”

Make Your Own Premium Quality Wines

at a

Fully-equipped Winemaking Facility

Email: info@tinlizziewineworks.comWebsite: www.tinlizziewineworks.comClarksville, Maryland

Food Website: http://food.winetrailtraveler.com

We have expanded our passion for wine to olive oils, cheeses and vinegars with the addition of the companion website Food.WineTrailTraveler. This website includes visits to cheesemakers, olive oil mills and grape seed oil producers. Look for recipes that use cheese, olive or grape seed oils, and wine vinegars. This new website includes a forum that is easy to use. Post a comment or ask a question. The more people who participate the more fun the forum will be.

Visitors to the website can follow our adventures at home in making red or white wine vinegars and a variety of cheeses. At the end of 2011, we tried our first attempt at making mozzarella cheese. The texture was not right but the flavor was good and the ricotta cheese made from the whey was great. Currently we have a small batch of red wine vinegar aging. It has been in the vinegar crock for about 1½ weeks and already the vinegar aromas are coming forth. It’s fun and exciting. If you enjoy good food, you may want to give it a try yourself.

The book reviews have already started with a review of Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil

by Tom Mueller. If you use olive oil, I heartily recommend this book. It gives the reader an inside look at the olive oil industry. After reading you will ponder the question, “what is truth in labeling?” You can read my review at http://food.winetrailtraveler.com/oil/olive/Extravirginityreview.php. My next book review, soon to be published, will be Made in Italy, a cookbook, by David Rocco.

The calendar section of the website focuses on food festivals and special events particularly those that feature cheese and olive oil.

As we continue to travel to wineries, we are adding creameries and olive oil mills to our agenda. Watch for more articles, reviews and recipes!

When you visit the companion food website, check out the forum and sign up. If you have a particular fondness for a type of cheese, extra virgin olive oil or vinegar let me know and I’ll check it out. Let me know what you like or don’t like about the new website.

Even while we have this additional website, we will continue to focus on the wine industry with WineTrailTraveler.com.

Enjoy, Kathy

Cheeses, and Olive Oils, and Vinegars! Oh My!

Red Wine Braised Duck Leg with Huckleberries and Chestnuts

Ingredients

4 duck legs ½ yellow onion, diced 1 carrot, diced 1 stalk celery, diced 2 c red wine 6 juniper berries, crushed 2 bay leaves 1 c brown chicken stock 1 c chestnuts, peeled ¾ c huckleberries, see note salt and pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375° F. 2. Trim the edges of the duck legs of any excess fat and season with salt and pepper. 3. Place in a wide, heavy bottom pan, skin side down over high heat. Sear on both sides and remove from the pan. Drain off all but two tablespoons of the duck fat. 4. Sauté the onion, carrot and celery for two to three minutes to soften. 5. Add the red wine, juniper berries and bay leaves. Reduce by half. 6. Return the duck legs to the pan, skin side up, along with enough chicken stock to cover three quters of the duck. Bring to a simmer, cover and place in the middle of the preheated oven. 7. After one hour remove the lid and add the peeled chestnuts. Cook for an additional half hour, until duck is tender and starting to pull away from the bone. 8. Remove the duck from the pan and return to the top of the stove. Add the huckleberries and r duce to a light sauce consistency. 9. Using a ladle, skim off any fat that may have accumulated on top. Return the duck legs to the pan and warm through.

Serve over wide ribbon noodles.

Note: Huckleberries are a type of wild blueberry. If unavailable, substitute blackberries and add to the pan after the sauce is reduced.

Enjoy with a Glass of Cakebread Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon.

Recipe provided by Cakebread Cellars, Napa, California.

Moroccan Chicken with Meyer Lemon Olive OilIngredients

2 t paprika 1 t ground cumin 1 t ground ginger 1 t turmeric ½ t cinnamon ¼ t freshly ground black pepper 3 T of Dry Creek Olive Co. Meyer lemon olive oil 3-4 lbs. chicken boneless chicken thighs 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 onion, chopped The peel fro 1 lemon, pulp discarded, peel cut into thing strips 1 c green olives, pitted ½ c water ½ c raisins ¼ c fresh cilantro ¼ c fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped.

Directions

1. Combine all the spices in a large bowl. Pat dry the chicken pieces ad put in the bowl, coat well with the spice mixture. Let the chicken stand for one hour in the spices. 2. In a large, heavy bottomed skillet, heat the Meyer Lemon olive oil on medium high heat. Add the chicken pieces, sprinkle slightly with salt and brown, skin side down for five minutes. Lower the heat to medium-low and add the garlic and onions. 3. Cover and let cook for 15 minutes. Turn chicken pieces over. 4. Add the lemon slices, olives, raisins, and ½ c water 5. Bring to a simmer on medium heat, then lower the heat to low, cover, and cook for an additional 30 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and quite tender. 6. Mix in fresh parsley and cilantro just before serving. Adjust seasoning to taste.

Serve wit couscous, rice or rice pilaf.

Recipe provided by Dry Creek Olive Company in Healdsburg, California.

Beautiful views of vineyards in Prosser, Washington from the deck at McKinley Springs Winery.

CaliforniaTemecula Valley Wine Growers Association34567 Rancho California Road Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1601 Temecula, California 92593 800-801-9463

A Rafanelli Winery4685 West Dry Creek Road Healdsburg, California 95448707-433-1385

BARRA of Mendocino Winery7051 North State StreetRedwood Valley, California 95470707-485-0322

Briar Rose41720 Calle Cabrillo Temecula, California 92592 951-308-1098

Lorimar Wines42031 Main St. Suite # C Temecula, California 92590951-240-5177

Magnanimus Wine Group 13601 Old River Rd.Hopland, California 95449Tel: (415) 885-7927

ColoradoThe Wine Country Inn777 Grande River Drive Palisade, Colorado 81526888-855-8330

MarylandTin Lizzie Wineworks 13240 Greenberry LaneClarksville, MD 21029

Serpent Ridge Videyard 2962 Nicodemus Rd.Westminster, MD 21157410-848-6511

MichiganBucci Ristorante 20217 Mack Ave. Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan313-882-1044

Contessa Wine Cellars3235 Friday RoadColoma, Michigan 49038

Chateau Chantal15900 Rue de VinTraverse City, Michigan 49686231-223-4110

NevadaPahrump Valley Winery 3810 Winery Road Pahrump, Nevada 89048800-368-9463

New JerseyCava Winery & Vineyard3619 Route 94Hamburg, NJ 07419973-823-9463

Ventimiglia Vineyard 101 Layton Road Wantage, NJ 07461973-875-4333

New YorkThree Brothers Wineries & Estates 623 Lerch Road, Geneva, New York 14456315-585-4432

The Halsey House 2057 Trumansburg Road Trumansburg, NY 14886 800-387-5590

OhioFerrante Winery & Ristorante 5585 N River Road W (State Rt. 307) Geneva, Ohio 44041440-466-8466

Grand River Cellars5750 South Madison Rd. (Route 528) Madison, Ohio 44057440-298-9838

Laurello Vineyards4573 State Route 307 EastGeneva, Ohio 44041 440-415-0661

Winery at Perennial Vineyards11877 Poorman Street SWNavarre, Ohio 44662330-832-3677

Winery at Versailles6572 St Rt 47Versailles, Ohio 45380 937-526-3232

PennsylvaniaThe Winery at Wilcox1867 Mefferts Run RoadWilcox, Pennsylvania 15870814-929-5598

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Tennessee Apple Barn Winery220 Apple Valley RoadSevierville, Tennessee 37862865-428-6850

Belle Meade Plantation5025 Harding PikeNashville Tennessee, 37205(615) 356-0501

Blue Slip Winery105B W. Jackson Ave.Knoxville, Tennessee 37902865-249-7808

DelMonaco Winery & Vineyards600 Lance DriveBaxter, TN 38544931-858-1177

Hillside Winery229 Collier DriveSevierville, Tennessee 37862865-908-8482

Mountain Valley Winery2174 ParkwayPigeon Forge, Tennessee 37863865-453-6334

Texas Fredericksburg Winery 247 West Main Street Fredericksburg, Texas 78624830-990-8747

Grape Creek Vineyards10587 East Highway 290 Fredericksburg, Texas 78624830-644-2710

Rancho Ponte Vineyard 315 Ranch Road 1376 Fredericksburg, Texas 78624830-990-8555

VirginiaArcady Vineyard Wine Tours, LLC 1376 Sutlers Rd Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 434-872-9475

Barrel Oak Winery3623 Grove Lane Delaplane, Virginia 20144571-238-0033

DelFosse Vineyards and Winery500 DelFosse Winery LaneFaber, Virginia 22938434-263-6100

LeoGrande Vineyards and Winery1027 Wingfield DriveGoode, Virginia 24556 Phone: 540-586-4066

Mariners Landing Resort 1217 Graves Harbor TrailHuddleston, Virginia 24104540-296-1259

Peaks of Otter Winery 2122 Sheep Creek Road Bedford, Virginia 24523540-586-3707

Pearmund Cellars 6190 Georgetown Road Broad Run, Virginia 20137 540-347-3475

The Hague Winery 8268 Cople Highway Hague, VA 22469 804-472-5283

Three Fox Vineyards10100 Three Fox LaneDelaplane, Virginia 20144 540-364-6073

Unicorn Winery/Vineyard489 Old Bridge RdAmissville, VA 20106540-349-5885

Vint Hill Craft Winery 7150 Lineweaver Road Vint Hill, Virginia 20187703-991-0191

The Winery at La Grange 4970 Antioch Road Haymarket, Virginia 20169703-753-9360

Washington AprèsVin Post Office Box 2 Prosser, Washington 99350 509-531-1293

McKinley Springs Winery 1201 Alderdale Rd Prosser, Washington 99350 509-894-4528

West VirginiaWatts Roost Vineyard 2245 Blue Sulphur PikeLewisburg, West Virginia 24901Phone: 304-645-5308 or 304-667-8843

Bordeaux, FranceThe Bordeaux Wine Experience at Château Coulon Laurensac 1, chemin de Meydieu 33360 Latresne (BORDEAUX), France Phone: 00 33 (0)556 20 64 12

New Zealand Destiny Bay Vineyards Waiheke Island, Auckland, 1971New Zealand+649 372-9300

On the Back Cover

Olives almost ready for harvest at Talcott Olive Oil in Napa, California.The newest of the Wine Trail Traveler sites, Food.WineTrailTraveler.com debuts in January 2012. Check out the site for articles about cheese, oils and wine vinegars. There is a recipe section as well as a calendar for upcoming events.

www.WineTrailTraveler.com